ADA Website Requirements 2024: Complete Compliance Guide

Yes. Courts have consistently held that websites of businesses open to the public are 'places of public accommodation' under ADA Title III. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has repeatedly affirmed that ADA applies to websites and mobile applications. There is no website traffic minimum or business size exemption. If your business is open to the public and has a website, ADA likely applies.

ADA has different titles covering different entities:

While ADA doesn't specify a technical standard, the DOJ and courts consistently reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the appropriate benchmark. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is published by the W3C and provides specific, testable success criteria. Meeting WCAG 2.1 AA provides strong evidence of accessibility compliance and defense against ADA claims.

All aspects of your website and digital presence should be accessible:

The DOJ proposed rules in 2023 specifically addressing web accessibility under ADA Title II (state and local governments). The proposed rule would require WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance within 2-3 years of final rule publication. While Title III (private businesses) rulemaking is pending, courts already enforce accessibility requirements without waiting for specific rules.

To achieve and maintain ADA website compliance:

While not technically required under ADA, an accessibility statement demonstrates good faith and provides helpful information. Include: commitment to accessibility, standards you're working toward (WCAG 2.1 AA), known limitations, and contact information for accessibility issues. A11yScan can help generate accessibility statements based on your compliance status.